Wednesday, October 21, 2009

How To Follow Your GF Shopping

In the past few weeks, Princess and I have been looking to buy our outfits for the Nuffnang Asia-Pacific Blog Awards in Singapore this Friday. I initially wanted to just go in my suit but Ming insisted I go in a tuxedo so I ended up having to go buy a tux and almost emptying my bank account.

Then I had to go through a process that most bfs find painful: Following the gf shopping for her dress. Over the years though I've learned ways to ease this pain. Here's how you can make the whole process a lot simpler.

1) Don't fight it

Fine we hate shopping and doing things we hate makes us grumpy. So when you walk around with your girlfriend, you give a bored looking face. When she asks you if a dress is nice you just say "It's ok" and then go back to playing with your phone.

The truth is, shopping with your girlfriend is a bit like getting your tetanus jab. The more you struggle, the more painful it is. So what you gotta do is this.

Look like you FUCKING LOVE SHOPPING! That you'd rather follow her shopping than play beach volleyball with Jessica Alba and Kate Beckinsale.

Follow her around and when she tries on a dress and asks for your opinion give her one. And I don't mean just "It's nice..".

I mean a real opinion like

"I think the cutting and all is nice but the colour isn't really nice. I think the yellow is a bit too pale, makes the dress look a bit old."

So she really takes it all in.

What's the point of doing all this? It helps her decide quicker and when she does decide quicker, it cuts down your painful shopping time from 6 hours of walking around to maybe just 2.

Don't lie for the sake of getting it over with quickly though. She'll know you are and she'll never ever listen to you again.

2) Be Patient! Wait for it.... wait for it....

Ok here's how we guys shop. Correct me if I'm wrong.

I went to Pavilion to look for a tuxedo. Went to Zegna, asked for a tux.

They brought out two different types. One that cost RM12,000 and the other RM9,000. I kept my cool and pretended that it was a reasonable price eventhough inside my head I was going (HOLY SHIT!!!). Acted cool, ran out of the shop and never looked back.

Then went to Hugo Boss. Asked for a tux. Was quoted a much much cheaper price and said ok. Tried it on.

Like it. Buy.

End of discussion. It didn't matter to me if there was another suit somewhere else in Pavilion that was potentially a bit nicer and a little bit cheaper. It didn't matter. Just like all guys, here's how we shop: We come, we see, we like, we buy.

Women though don't usually shop like that and that's something we will all gradually learn. She may find the best dress in the world in the shop but she won't buy it. No not yet. She'll want to go looking around some more. Don't grumble.

In fact, since you know it's going to happen already why not just suggest it.

If you find a dress that you like then say "I think it's really nice darling but lets go see if we can find something better. If not then we'll come back and buy it".

Yes accept it.... with or without you, she is going to go look around and chances are come back and buy the same dress! You might as well accept it and be the one to suggest it. Besides it makes her decide quicker too. Otherwise you might end up spending another 20 minutes in the shop while she looks at herself in the mirror.

3) Smile

If you're lucky and with your cooperation, sometimes this ends really quickly. Like within a couple of hours. So give yourself a smile then. Because your girlfriend will probably wanna give you a big kiss for being such a good patient shopping buddy.

But most importantly, she will have a nice dress that you liked and you suggested she buy.

Princess' dress for the Nuffnang APAC Blog Awards is really cute. This picture doesn't do justice but you'll all see from the Nuffnang Blog Awards pictures.

The thing about buying dresses for formal events though is that it's a bit of a marathon. Not a sprint. It doesn't end at the dress. After the dress you'll have to move on to finding the right shoe for the dress (unless you're lucky enough that she bought a black dress, because chances are she has black shoes) and accessories.

Glad shopping is done. I even find it a bit of a pain for myself. Don't like shopping... unless it's buying gadgets or something. *sigh* I'm such a geek.

last time i went shopping for new clothes i managed to get it done within 2 hours and i managed to get everything! from the shoes to clothes to dress and also winter jacket. (i mean what's so hard about shopping? just spend the money mar to buy anything that catches your eyes XD)

while my bf went to KL and in three days all he managed to buy is two tank top and he didn't even find a winter jacket -_-

when i asked him why he simply said: because there might be a better looking one in another shop wtf.

Tim, this is my first time commenting and I feel absolutely necessary. Hahahaa... Well I think I shop like a guy. I don't go looking for other dresses if I find something I like, I just settle for the dress and buy it without regrets. Princess, in this case I am a faster shopper. Perhaps an exception case?

Yerp. Definately accurate for most case of 'girlfriend-brings-boyfriend-to-shopping' cases. Guess my boyfriend's one of the smarter ones who know what to do to save some of his time shopping with me....lol!

Or you know the ones where mothers like to dress their little girls in for special occasions??? Looks all poufy and nice but actually makes you sweat alot and itches like hell???

I'm not sure if I should have just kept my mouth shut. =P No ofense, like she wouldn't read this and decide to go buy another dress right?? Don't want to put you through another unnecessary shopping trip.

I think your tips are working for you. My bf and I saw you on the streets of Low Yat last weekend and you were smiling from ear to ear with princess. My bet now is that she most probably found her dress and maybe you guys are going to Low Yat for a geeky trip?

anonymous: it's ok. she doesn't find it offensive. in fact she even described herself that her dress looked like a wedding cake. i thought it was cute though. i guess beauty is in the eyes of the beholder

chuey: yes it's SA creation. :)

joanne: haha we'll have one pic like that in the Nuffnang Awards

autmn: awww... well you'll have plenty of time to go shopping when he comes back

izzat: hahahahahah funny!! but t-shirts normally aren't that expensive right. so don't have to think sooo long

junn: hey tinkle bell. great to see u again :) i must meet ur bf one day

jap: hahaha yes! we were done with shopping for a dress and off to Low Yat for gadget shopping! next time say hi ok? :)

Haha...take away my comment I think everyone has done you enough justice. I think the same goes with me though. The difference is, when I shop for my own stuff, I can do it abit more painful than my gf. I knew it. So, I kinda understand the feelin.